Things Have Changed

                              Email sent November 21, 2014

My dearest friends,

As most of you are aware I have been struggling with some health issues the last couple of months.  I can not begin to thank you enough for your love and prayers in my behalf.  It is during times like this that we seem to find ourselves helpless and yet I sincerely feel that the greatest service one can give is that of prayer.  It is deeply touching to me to know that so may are bowing and kneeling in prayer in my behalf.  My name has been entered on the rolls of the temple by many of you.  I love you and thank you for that.

We have received some very unwelcome news.  I have been diagnosed with stage 4 liver/pancreatic cancer.  Though this would seem like a death sentence, there is some hope.  I had been referred to a wonderful surgeon in Chicago and Dell and I both feel that it is not an accident that I ended up with this particular surgeon.  This doctor told me that most doctors would tell me there is nothing they can do.  With that mindset and general medical procedures I could live 1 1/2-2 years.  This doctor has had a patient with a situation similar to mine who has now been cancer free for 4 years.  He would like me to follow the same protocol as that patient.  He would like me to find an oncologist who will pursue aggressive chemotherapy for the next 3-5 months. At that point if the tumors have shrunk, he will surgically clean out what is left.  I have to be willing to fight.  I hope that I have that fight in me.

The wonderful nurse practitioner got right in my face and told me to remember that I am not this cancer.  That is not who I am.  I am a wife and and mother and a grandmother and I need to not dwell on this but to get on with my life enjoying the good days as much as I can.  I will try to hold to this great advice.  

Please forgive me for sending a group email to so many of you who are so individually loved and important to us.  It is difficult enough to write this one email let alone so many individual emails.  I hope you understand.  Please know that you are each one so loved by Dell and I and if I could send separate emails at this time I certainly would.  We know that you are together with us on this difficult journey and we love you for that.

With the holiday season approaching please know that Dell and I feel we have so much to be grateful for regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in. We are so grateful to celebrate the gift of the Savior of the world this season. We are grateful for His atoning sacrifice and for the blessings of eternal marriage and eternal families.  We hope you will join us in celebrating these upcoming holidays with great joy and gratitude.

We are so grateful for your friendship, love, and support.

All our love,

Barbara & Dell